For centuries the Maisin
tribe of Papua New Guinea has maintained
a traditional lifestyle and managed their
material resources and their heritage wisely.
They are now burdened with an outbreak
of illness and disease that threatens their
existence. They produce Tapa Cloth (bark
cloth) to help to buy medicine to protect
the tribe from future outbreaks. I took
part in a cultural and artistic exchange
with the Maisin people to support their
stand against outside corporate interests
that seek to undermine their traditional
lifestyle. I have documented this tribe
over the course of ten years. The photographs
in the exhibition are representative of
the way of life of the traditional people
of the Papua New Guinea coastal area near
Collingwood Bay.
Lonnie Graham (Photographer,
Professor of Pennsylvania State University)